By Secretlab produces some of the finest gaming desks available, yet its upcoming model has a distinctly focused purpose. Instead of providing the identical features as the premier Magnus Pro, the brand’s latest surface appears to be explicitly crafted to vanquish the mess of cables tangled beneath my feet at a more budget-friendly price.
Named the Secretlab Magnus Evo, the gaming desk creator’s most recent offering claims “intentional features that handle all the organization for you.” One could argue that the Magnus Pro achieves this as well, but this alternative is not only more affordable at $749 / £599 but also introduces some new, straightforward cable management innovations.
For example, the Magnus Evo is equipped with a “reconceived” magnetic drop-down cable tray rather than a hidden trough. You’ll still be able to easily access your plugs, as it opens at a 30-degree angle, preventing your cables from spilling out. It is also positioned adjacent to an integrated power column, so you’ll only manage one cable leading from your wall to the desk’s hidden components.
Although the Evo does miss out on numerous Magnus Pro features, it retains some convenient magnetic components. This time, the magnets are strategically placed at the rear and intended to fasten cables using anchors. I don’t know about you, but not having to see my gaming mouse cord being yanked down like Georgie in Stephen King’s IT is invaluable, and I’m embarrassed to confess how frequently that occurs.
If you appreciate benefits like having a magnetic headphone hook at the front, worry not, as that feature also returns with the Magnus Evo. In fact, this standing desk is quite similar to the Pro, more so than the prior basic Magnus model, and while it lacks interchangeable covers, it showcases an ultra-matte soft touch finish on top.
You’ll also be retaining compatibility with the existing Magnus range of add-ons, covering everything from cable covers to monitor arms and risers. If you require a particular length, you’ll be pleased to learn that you’ve got 1.5m and 1.77m options just like the Magnus Pro.
In accordance with the desk’s reveal, Secretlab’s Head of Industrial Design Vincent Sin states that the Magnus Evo is “the simplest, yet most effective method to keep your arrangement effortlessly tidy.” It certainly seems to have been designed to tackle cable chaos above all else, but I hope it doesn’t simplify to the extent of feeling less robust. There’s a reason I still prefer the Flexispot E7 Plus for various tasks rather than even the Magnus Pro, as the former’s heavy-duty four-leg structure renders it virtually flex-free.
Simultaneously, however, Flexispot’s under-desk cable management is minimal, and it would be a falsehood to say it hasn’t been driving me crazy after a year of use. The fact that the Magnus Evo will feature the same sleek sit-to-stand panel and integrated wiring suggests that, unless I’m exerting my full body weight on an old CRT attempting to remove screws or assembling a hefty gaming PC, Secretlab’s new Magnus will likely feel more suited for establishing a super neat gaming arrangement.
I’ll be trying out the Secretlab Magnus Evo soon, and while I’ll reserve my final thoughts for a comprehensive review, I sense the spaghetti monster tormenting my configuration should be wary.
- More gaming desks at Amazon
- More Magnus desks at Secretlab
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